Lorene “Rene” Coates Burandt of Rochester N.Y. passed away on Thursday, February 22, 2024.
Fondly known as Rene, she was born in Rochester N.Y. on November 16, 1927 and never left town. In 1946, she joined Rochester Telephone as an operator and worked her way through the ranks to become a supervisor and to shape the workforce when she joined the human resources department. Rene retired in 1976 and began volunteer work. She spent 10 years with Unity installing health call units. She was an active member at St. Pius X Church and was always ready with a smile when ushering at Sunday morning services. Rene delivered “meals on wheels” and her most recent volunteer opportunity was making pillowcases for the children undergoing treatment at Golisano Children’s Hospital who needed a reminder of how loved they were when they put their heads on their pillows at night.
Rene met the love of her life, John Burandt, and married him on September 10, 1949. Their 45 years together, before John passed away, could be described in three words—the perfect team. They did everything together and were always lending a hand to help family and friends. They loved traveling in the United States, but for their 25th wedding anniversary, John took his first airplane trip and Rene tamed her fear of flying and off they went to Hawaii. They had so much fun in the islands that they went a second time.
Rene enjoyed being around family and she and her sister were inseparable and often could be found at a card table playing euchre or at the slot machines, when they weren’t out shopping or bicycling. She will be remembered for her quick wit, helping hands, and loving heart.
She is predeceased by her siblings, James Coates (Peg), John “Dick” Coates, and Bernice “Bea” Wright. She is survived by her sisters-in-law, Nell Burandt and Corinne Coates; and a host of nieces and nephews.
A church service will be held at St. Pius X 3000 Chili Avenue on March 18, 2024 at 10 a.m. followed by a graveside burial at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic cemetery in Churchville . In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rene’s name to Golisano’s Children Hospital or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
